Millions of people in the United States are affected by Parkinson’s disease and Lewy Body Dementia (LBD).
These are both serious brain conditions that cause problems with movement, such as shaking, stiffness, and trouble with balance.
Over time, they also affect the mind, causing memory loss, confusion, and difficulty thinking clearly. These diseases mostly affect older adults, and they slowly get worse as time passes.
For many years, scientists have been trying to find better ways to treat these illnesses. Recently, a team of researchers at Scripps Research made a discovery that could bring new hope. Their finding may lead to better ways to slow down or even stop the diseases from getting worse.
In both Parkinson’s and LBD, there is a problem with a protein in the brain called alpha-synuclein. Normally, our bodies remove proteins that are old or no longer needed.
But in people with these brain diseases, alpha-synuclein builds up. It forms sticky clumps that damage brain cells. These clumps can also spread from one brain cell to another, making the disease progress faster.
To keep the brain clean and healthy, the body uses a special cleaning system. One of the important parts of this system is a protein called p62. It helps get rid of the extra or harmful proteins. But in people with Parkinson’s or LBD, something goes wrong with p62. It doesn’t do its job properly.
The researchers found out why. They discovered that a chemical change called S-nitrosylation affects p62. This change is caused by high levels of nitrogen-based molecules in the brain, such as nitric oxide. When this happens, p62 cannot work the way it should. As a result, more alpha-synuclein clumps form and spread, which makes the diseases worse.
This new discovery is important because it gives scientists a new idea for treatment. If they can stop the chemical change from affecting p62, they might be able to help the brain clear out the harmful protein clumps. That could slow down how fast Parkinson’s and LBD get worse.
The scientists are also studying if certain vitamins could help. Vitamins like E and D are already known to support brain health. Now, researchers are testing whether these vitamins can help protect p62 and keep it working properly. If they do, these vitamins might be used to help prevent or treat these brain diseases.
There is still much more research to be done, and a cure is not yet in sight. However, this new understanding gives hope. By learning more about what causes these diseases to get worse, scientists can work on new treatments. These treatments might help millions of people live better, longer lives in the future.
If you care about dementia, please read studies that eating apples and tea could keep dementia at bay, and Olive oil: a daily dose for better brain health.
For more health information, please see recent studies what you eat together may affect your dementia risk, and time-restricted eating: a simple way to fight aging and cancer.
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